optical or coaxial audio cable?

I just tested the difference between co-ax and optical cables in my system. I'm running a Denon DVD-2500 to a Rotel RSP-1066 using a Monster Cable fiber-optic interconnect (0.5 M) and a Monster Cable Video 2 interconenct (1.0 M) for the co-ax connection (yes...a video cable for a digital application). The test was using Coldplay's "Parachutes" CD and the RSP-1066 was in PCM mode. The fiber optic cable has been in use for 3 years. The Monster Cable Video 2 interconenct hasn't really seen the light of day.

I could immediately hear a difference, but I thought that perhaps I was somewhat biased since I knew which cable was which, so I had my wife compare the difference. I asked her first to describe the differences between "A" and "B", then to specify which she preferred.

We both preferred the co-ax connection.

Nrenter...I also have the Rotel 1066, and have tried out both coax and optical hookup. I hear a slight difference in gain, but that's about it. (Gain differences are easy to misinterpret as sonic quality). I will take another listen.

I didn't hear a gain difference. Instruments seemed more defined in space. Mind you, the difference was slight, but still noticiable. I've got both cables still attached, so I'll keep testing, too.

Nrenter...I suppose you realize that you can put the coax into one input and the optical into another, and switch back and forth without disconnecting any wires. Why not do the analog signal at the same time and cover all bases.

Nrenter....An afterthought...If the optical cable were defective, or improperly seated, the ROTEL would detect lack of a digital input, and would automatically revert to the analog signal (which you should have connected, per owners manual, so that you can send a signal to a recorder). Make sure that the optical signal is actually being used. Ditto for the coax.